Flexible touch panel and flexible display device

ABSTRACT

A flexible touch panel includes a flexible substrate bent in a first direction, and a touch sensor unit disposed on the flexible substrate, the touch sensor unit including a bridge extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from and the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2015-0003504, filed on Jan. 9, 2015, which is herebyincorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

Field

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a flexibletouch panel and a flexible display device.

Discussion of the Background

A touch panel may recognize a touch of a pen or a user's finger. Thetouch panel may be disposed on a display panel, such as an organic lightemitting diode display or a liquid crystal display, to input a signal toa display device. The touch panel includes a substrate and a touchsensor unit disposed on the substrate to recognize a touch. The touchsensor unit includes sensing electrodes and bridges connecting thesensing electrodes.

Bridges of a touch sensor unit may be damaged from stress when a touchpanel is bent. A flexible touch panel including a flexible substrate hasbeen recently studied.

The above information disclosed in this Background section is only forenhancement of understanding of the background of the inventive concept,and, therefore, it may contain information that does not form the priorart that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skillin the art.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a flexible touchpanel and a flexible display device that may suppress damage from stressto a bridge of a touch sensor unit.

Additional aspects will be set forth in the detailed description whichfollows, and, in part, will be apparent from the disclosure, or may belearned by practice of the inventive concept.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, aflexible touch panel includes a flexible substrate bent in a firstdirection, and a touch sensor unit disposed on the flexible substrate,the touch sensor unit including a bridge extending in a second directionintersecting the first direction.

The second direction may be perpendicular to the first direction.

The touch sensor unit may further include first sensing electrodesdisposed on the flexible substrate, each of the first sensing electrodesseparated from each other along a third direction, a connection partconnecting the first sensing electrodes, second sensing electrodesdisposed on the flexible substrate, each of the second sensingelectrodes separated from each other along a fourth directionintersecting the first direction, and an insulating pattern disposedbetween the connection part and the bridge, the insulating patterncovering the connection part, and the bridge may be disposed on theconnection part and connects the second sensing electrodes.

The first sensing electrode and the connection part may be integrallyformed.

The second sensing electrode may be disposed on the same layer as thefirst sensing electrode.

The bridge may include a metal.

The second sensing electrode may include a transparent conductivematerial.

The insulating pattern may include a bent surface and the bridge may bebent along the bent surface.

The flexible touch panel may include at least two bridges connectingadjacent second sensing electrodes.

The second direction and the fourth direction may intersect each otherat an angle in the range of 5° to 80°.

The third direction may be parallel to the first direction.

The flexible touch panel may further include a window disposed on thetouch sensor unit, the window may be bent in the first direction.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, aflexible display device includes a flexible display panel bent in afirst direction and configured to display an image, and a touch sensorunit disposed on the flexible display panel and including a bridgeextending in a second direction intersecting the first direction.

The flexible display device may further include a window disposed on thetouch sensor unit, the window may be bent in the first direction.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, aflexible touch panel includes a flexible substrate, and a touch sensorunit formed on the flexible substrate, the touch sensor unit including abridge extending in a direction intersecting a direction in which theflexible substrate is bent.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, aflexible display device includes a flexible display panel displaying animage, and a touch sensor unit formed on the flexible display panel, thetouch sensor unit including a bridge extending in a directionintersecting a direction in which the flexible display panel is bent.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a flexibletouch panel and a flexible display device may suppress damage fromstress to a bridge of a touch sensor unit.

The foregoing general description and the following detailed descriptionare exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the inventive concept, and are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplaryembodiments of the inventive concept, and, together with thedescription, serve to explain principles of the inventive concept.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a flexible touch panel according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along line II-II.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along line III-III.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of a flexible touch panel according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a portion of a flexible touch panelaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a portion of a flexible touch panelaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of a flexibledisplay device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of various exemplary embodiments. It is apparent, however,that various exemplary embodiments may be practiced without thesespecific details or with one or more equivalent arrangements. In otherinstances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagramform in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring various exemplaryembodiments.

In the accompanying figures, the size and relative sizes of layers,films, panels, regions, etc., may be exaggerated for clarity anddescriptive purposes. Also, like reference numerals denote likeelements.

When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,”or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on,connected to, or coupled to the other element or layer or interveningelements or layers may be present. When, however, an element or layer isreferred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” or“directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are no interveningelements or layers present. For the purposes of this disclosure, “atleast one of X, Y, and Z” and “at least one selected from the groupconsisting of X, Y, and Z” may be construed as X only, Y only, Z only,or any combination of two or more of X, Y, and Z, such as, for instance,XYZ, XYY, YZ, and ZZ. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Asused herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of oneor more of the associated listed items.

Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describevarious elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections, theseelements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections should not belimited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element,component, region, layer, and/or section from another element,component, region, layer, and/or section. Thus, a first element,component, region, layer, and/or section discussed below could be termeda second element, component, region, layer, and/or section withoutdeparting from the teachings of the present disclosure.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,”“upper,” and the like, may be used herein for descriptive purposes, and,thereby, to describe one element or feature's relationship to anotherelement(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the drawings. Spatiallyrelative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of anapparatus in use, operation, and/or manufacture in addition to theorientation depicted in the drawings. For example, if the apparatus inthe drawings is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath”other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the otherelements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompassboth an orientation of above and below. Furthermore, the apparatus maybe otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at otherorientations), and, as such, the spatially relative descriptors usedherein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, thesingular forms, “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Moreover,the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,”when used in this specification, specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one ormore other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof.

Various exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference tosectional illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealizedexemplary embodiments and/or intermediate structures. As such,variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, forexample, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to beexpected. Thus, exemplary embodiments disclosed herein should not beconstrued as limited to the particular illustrated shapes of regions,but are to include deviations in shapes that result from, for instance,manufacturing. For example, an implanted region illustrated as arectangle will, typically, have rounded or curved features and/or agradient of implant concentration at its edges rather than a binarychange from implanted to non-implanted region. Likewise, a buried regionformed by implantation may result in some implantation in the regionbetween the buried region and the surface through which the implantationtakes place. Thus, the regions illustrated in the drawings are schematicin nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the actualshape of a region of a device and are not intended to be limiting.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure is a part. Terms,such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should beinterpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning inthe context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in anidealized or overly formal sense, unless expressly so defined herein.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a flexible touch panel according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is across-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along line II-II. FIG. 3A is across-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along line III-III.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3A, a flexible touch panel 100 according to thepresent exemplary embodiment recognizes a touch and includes a flexiblesubstrate FS, a wiring part WP, a touch sensor unit TS, and a window WI.

The flexible substrate FS may include a flexible film. The flexiblesubstrate FS is an insulating substrate including polymer, glass,stainless steel, or the like. The flexible substrate FS may be flexible,stretchable, foldable, bendable, or rollable, such that the flexibletouch panel 100 may be flexible, stretchable, foldable, bendable, orrollable. The flexible substrate FS may be bent in one direction and theflexible substrate FS of the present exemplary embodiment may be bent ina first direction.

The flexible touch panel 100 may include a touch controller (notillustrated) formed as a flexible printed circuit board, a printedcircuit board, or the like, and may be connected to the wiring part(WP). The touch controller (not illustrated) digitizes an electricalanalog signal transmitted from the flexible touch panel 100 into adigital signal using a converter, and the like to calculate touchedlocation information.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the first direction isthe direction in which the flexible substrate FS is bent. According toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first directionmay be parallel with a direction in which the flexible substrate FS isbent.

The wiring part WP is disposed in an area outside of the flexiblesubstrate FS and is connected to the touch sensor unit TS. The wiringpart WP may connect the touch sensor unit TS to the touch controller,and include opaque conductive materials such as metal, or transparentconductive materials. The wiring part WP may be formed on the flexiblesubstrate FS using a different process from or the same process as thetouch sensor unit TS.

The touch sensor unit (TS) may recognize a touch and be transparent. Thetouch sensor unit TS is disposed on the flexible substrate FS and mayoperate in a capacitive type. The touch sensor unit TS includes a firstsignal line SL1 extending in the first direction on the flexiblesubstrate FS to be connected to the wiring part WP, a second signal lineSL2 extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction tobe connected to the wiring part WP, and an insulating pattern IPdisposed between the first signal line SL1 and the second signal lineSL2, corresponding to a portion where the first signal line SL1 and thesecond signal line SL2 intersect each other.

There may be multiple first signal lines SL1 and each of the firstsignal lines SL1 may sequentially be disposed in the second direction.There may be multiple second signal lines SL2 and each of the secondsignal lines SL2 may sequentially be disposed in the first direction.The first signal line SL1 and the second signal line SL2 intersect eachother and an insulating pattern IP is disposed between the first signalline SL1 and the second signal line SL2, so that the first signal lineSL1 and the second signal line SL2 intersect each other while beinginsulated from each other, at a portion where the first signal line SL1and the second signal line SL2 intersect each other.

In the flexible touch panel 100, when a voltage is sequentially appliedto the first signal lines SL1 and the second signal lines SL2, charge isfilled in the first signal lines SL1 and the second signal lines SL2,respectively. When the first signal line SL1 or the second signal lineSL2 is touched, a capacitance of the touched first signal line SL1 orsecond signal line SL2 is changed, such that the flexible touch panel100 determines a touched position.

Hereinafter, the first signal line SL1, the second signal line SL2, andthe insulating pattern IP will each be described in detail.

The first signal line SL1 includes a first sensing electrode TP1 and aconnection part CP. Multiple first sensing electrodes TP1 may be formedand each of the first sensing electrodes TP1 are disposed to beseparated from each other in the first direction, which is a directionthe flexible substrate FS is bent. The connection part CP connects thefirst sensing electrodes TP1, and more particularly, connects adjacentfirst sensing electrodes TP1 to each other. The first sensing electrodeTP1 and the connection part CP are integrally formed. The first sensingelectrode TP1 and the connection part CP may include a transparentconductive material, including at least one of indium tin oxide (ITO),indium zinc oxide (IZO), metal mesh, conductive polymer, and silvernanowire (AgNW). The metal mesh may be a metal pattern layer having amesh form that includes openings. When the metal mesh has the mesh form,the metal mesh may include openings in any form. For example, openingsmay have triangular shape, rectangular shape, pentagonal shape,hexagonal shape, heptagon shape, polygonal shape, circular shape, ovalshape, or closed loop shape. Further, the silver nanowire may be in aform of dispersed silver nanowire in a base layer including resin, ormay be in any form if the transparent conductive material includes thesilver nanowire.

The second signal line SL2 includes a second sensing electrode TP2 and abridge BR. Multiple second sensing electrodes TP2 may be formed and eachof the second sensing electrodes TP2 are disposed to be separated fromeach other in a second direction intersecting the first direction. Thebridge BR connects the second sensing electrodes TP2, and moreparticularly, connects between adjacent second sensing electrodes TP2.The second sensing electrode TP2 and the bridge BR are formed ondifferent layers. The bridge BR connects between the adjacent secondsensing electrodes TP2 in a bridge form. More particularly, the bridgeBR connects the adjacent second sensing electrodes TP2, while beingseparated from the connection part CP by the insulating pattern IP.

The second sensing electrode TP2 may include the same material andformed on the same layer as the first sensing electrode TP1 and theconnection part CP. The second sensing electrode TP2 may besimultaneously formed with the first sensing electrode TP1 and theconnection part CP. The second sensing electrode TP2 may include atransparent conductive material, including at least one of indium tinoxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), metal mesh, conductive polymer,carbon nanotube (CNT), and silver nanowire (AgNW).

The bridge BP is separated from the connection part CP by the insulatingpattern IP disposed therebetween. More particularly, the bridge BP isdisposed on the connection part CP, and the insulating pattern IP isdisposed therebetween. The bridge BR may include a material differentfrom the second sensing electrode TP2, and may include metals, forexample, gold, silver, and copper, etc., having low electricalresistance.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, thebridge may include at least one of indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zincoxide (IZO), metal mesh, conductive polymer, carbon nanotube (CNT),silver nanowire (AgNW), and the like.

The bridge BR extends in the second direction intersecting the firstdirection in which the flexible substrate FS is bent, to connect theadjacent second sensing electrodes TP2. The extending direction of thebridge BR is vertical to the first direction. Alternatively, the bridgeBR may extend in any direction intersecting a direction in which theflexible substrate FS is bent. The bridge BR is disposed on theinsulating pattern IP having a bent surface, such that the bridge BR isbent in the second direction along the bent surface of the insulatingpattern IP. As the bridge BR is bent in the second direction along thebent surface of the insulating pattern IP, residual stress may exist atseveral bent portions of the bridge BR. Accordingly, when a stressoccurs in the second direction, the bridge may be damaged due to thestress. However, since the flexible substrate FS according to thepresent exemplary embodiment is configured to be bent in the firstdirection, and the bridge BR extends in the second directionintersecting the first direction, the stress is applied to the bridge inthe first direction, when the flexible substrate FS is bent.Accordingly, damage to the bridge BR from the stress may be suppressed.

Further, as the bridge BR extends in the second direction intersectingthe first direction, when stress is applied to the bridge BR in thefirst direction due to bending the flexible substrate FS, the stress isapplied to a lateral direction of the bridge BR, which has a largeaspect ratio in the first direction. Accordingly, damage to the bridgeBR may be also suppressed from the stress applied in the firstdirection.

The insulating pattern IP is disposed between the connection part CP andthe bridge BR, and the insulating pattern IP has an island-shapedpattern. The insulating pattern IP covers the connection part CP. Theinsulating pattern IP has the bent surface and the bridge BR is disposedon the bent surface, such that the bridge BR extends along the bentsurface of the insulating pattern IP, to be bent along the bent surfaceof the insulating pattern IP. The insulating pattern IP may include atleast any one of silicon nitride (SiNx), aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), silicondioxide (SiO₂), titanium oxide (TiO₂), and the like, or may includepolymer.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of a flexible touch panel according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3B, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, the insulating pattern IP may be formed in a singleplate-shaped insulating layer. In this manner, the bridge BR may connectthe adjacent second sensing electrodes TP2 through contact hole of theinsulating pattern IP.

The window WI is disposed on the touch sensor unit TS. The window WI maybe attached to the touch sensor unit TS by an adhesive layer VLincluding a viscoelastic material. The window WI is disposed on thetouch sensor unit TS to protect the touch sensor unit TS from outsideinterference. The window WI may have an area larger than that of theflexible substrate FS on which the touch sensor unit TS and the wiringpart WP are formed. The window WI is disposed on the touch sensor unitTS and is bent in the same direction as the direction the flexiblesubstrate FS is bent. The window WI may remain bent state in the firstdirection, which is the same direction as the flexible substrate FS isbent, such that the flexible substrate FS may also remain bent in thefirst direction. The window WI may include a transparent material andmay include at least one of polymer, glass, quartz, and sapphire, andthe like.

As such, in the flexible touch panel 100 according to the presentexemplary embodiment, the bridge BR extends in the second directionintersecting the first direction of which the flexible substrate FS isbent, and thus the flexible substrate FS is bent in the first direction.Accordingly, even though stress is applied to the bridge BR in the firstdirection, the stress is applied to a lateral direction of the bridge BRthat has a large aspect ratio in the first direction. Therefore damageto the bridge BR due to the stress applied in the first direction may besuppressed.

Further, in the flexible touch panel 100 according to the presentexemplary embodiment, the bridge BR extends while being bent in thesecond direction along the bent surface of the insulating pattern IP.Accordingly, even though residual stress may exists at several bentportions of the bridge BR, since the flexible substrate FS is bent inthe first direction, the stress is applied to the bridge BR in the firstdirection, such that damage to the bridge BR due to the stress may besuppressed. More particularly, the flexible touch panel 100 according tothe present exemplary embodiment may suppress damage from stress to thebridge BR of the touch sensor unit TS.

Hereinafter, a flexible touch panel according to an exemplary embodimentof the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4.Components different from those of the flexible touch panel illustratedwith reference to FIGS. 1 to 3B will be described.

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a portion of a flexible touch panelaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the flexible touch panel 100 according to thepresent exemplary embodiment may include multiple bridges BR, and thebridges BRs extend in the second direction to connect adjacent secondsensing electrodes TP2.

As such, in the flexible touch panel 100 according to the presentexemplary embodiment, the bridges BRs extend in the second directionintersecting a first direction in which the flexible substrate FS isbent, and thus the flexible substrate FS is bent in the first direction.As a result, when stress is applied to the bridges BRs in the firstdirection, the stress is applied to a lateral direction of each of thebridges BR having a large aspect ratio in the first direction, andtherefore damage to the bridges BR from the stress applied in the firstdirection may be suppressed.

Further, in the flexible touch panel 100 according to present exemplaryembodiment, multiple bridges BR may be formed. As a result, when any oneof the bridges BR is damaged due to the stress applied in the firstdirection, the remaining bridges BRs may suppress disconnection ofadjacent second sensing electrodes TP2 from damage of the bridge BR.More particularly, the flexible touch panel 100 according to the presentexemplary embodiment may suppress damage from stress to the bridge BR ofthe touch sensor unit TS.

Hereinafter, a flexible touch panel according to an exemplary embodimentof the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 5.Components different from those of the flexible touch panel illustratedwith reference to FIGS. 1 to 3B will be described.

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a portion of a flexible touch panelaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the extending direction of the bridge BR of theflexible touch panel 100 according to the present exemplary embodimentis tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to the second direction.The extending direction of the bridge BR forms an angle of intersectionAN in the range of 5° to 80° to the second direction. The extendingdirection of the insulating pattern IP of the flexible touch panel 100according to the present exemplary embodiment is tilted at apredetermined angle with respect to the second direction. The extendingdirection of the insulating pattern IP forms an angle of intersection ANin the range of 5° to 80° to the second direction.

As such, in the flexible touch panel 100 according to the presentexemplary embodiment, the bridge BR extends in the second directionintersecting the first direction of which the flexible substrate FS isbent, and thus the flexible substrate FS is bent in the first direction.As a result, when stress is applied to the bridges BRs in the firstdirection, the stress is applied to a lateral direction of each of thebridges BR having a large aspect ratio in the first direction, andtherefore damage to the bridges BR from the stress applied in the firstdirection may be suppressed.

Further, in the flexible touch panel 100 according to the presentexemplary embodiment, the bridge BR is tilted at a predetermined anglewith respect to the second direction, and therefore light is suppressedfrom being reflected from a front surface of the bridge BR, such thatthe bridge BR may not be viewed from outside. More particularly, theflexible touch panel 100 may suppress damage from stress to the bridgeBR of the touch sensor unit TS.

Hereinafter, a flexible display device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIG. 6. Components different from those of the flexible touch panelillustrated with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3B will be described.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of a flexibledisplay device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 6, a flexible display device 1000 according to thepresent exemplary embodiment includes a flexible display panel FDdisplaying an image, the touch sensor unit TS, and the window WI.

The flexible display panel FD is bent in the first direction andincludes a substrate SUB, a display unit DM, and an encapsulation EN.

The substrate SUB is an insulating substrate including glass, polymer,stainless steel, or the like. The substrate SUB may be flexible,stretchable, foldable, bendable, or rollable such that the flexibledisplay panel FD may be flexible, stretchable, foldable, bendable, orrollable. The substrate SUB may include a flexible film including aresin such as polyimide, or the like.

The display unit DM displays an image using pixels. The pixel may be aminimum unit displaying the image. The display unit DM includes anorganic light emitting diode OLED emitting light and a thin-filmtransistor TFT connected to the organic light emitting diode OLED.According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention thedisplay unit DM may further include at least one scan wiring, at leastone data wiring, thin-film transistors TFTs, and at least one capacitor,which may have various known structures.

The thin-film transistor TFT includes an active layer AL, a gateelectrode GE, a source electrode SE, and a drain electrode DE.

The active layer AL may include polysilicon or an oxide semiconductor.The oxide semiconductor may include one of an oxide of titanium (Ti),hafnium (Hf), zirconium (Zr), aluminum (Al), tantalum (Ta), germanium(Ge), zinc (Zn), gallium (Ga), tin (Sn), and indium (In), or a compositeoxides thereof, such as a zinc oxide (ZnO), an indium-gallium-zinc oxide(InGaZnO₄), an indium-zinc oxide (Zn—In—O), a zinc-tin oxide (Zn—Sn—O),an indium-gallium oxide (In—Ga—O), an indium-tin oxide (In—Sn—O), anindium-zirconium oxide (In—Zr—O), an indium-zirconium-zinc oxide(In—Zr—Zn—O), an indium-zirconium-tin oxide (In—Zr—Sn—O), anindium-zirconium-gallium oxide (In—Zr—Ga—O), an indium-aluminum oxide(In—Al—O), an indium-zinc-aluminum oxide (In—Zn—Al—O), anindium-tin-aluminum oxide (In—Sn—Al—O), an indium-aluminum-gallium oxide(In—Al—Ga—O), an indium-tantalum oxide (In—Ta—O), anindium-tantalum-zinc oxide (In—Ta—Zn—O), an indium-tantalum-tin oxide(In—Ta—Sn—O), an indium-tantalum-gallium oxide (In—Ta—Ga—O), anindium-germanium oxide (In—Ge—O), an indium-germanium-zinc oxide(In—Ge—Zn—O), an indium-germanium-tin oxide (In—Ge—Sn—O), anindium-germanium-gallium oxide (In—Ge—Ga—O), a titanium-indium-zincoxide (Ti—In—Zn—O), and a hafnium-indium-zinc oxide (Hf—In—Zn—O).

The active layer AL includes a channel region not doped with impurities,and a source region and a drain region, which are formed by doping bothsides of the channel region with impurities. The impurities may varydepending on a type of the thin-film transistor and N-type or P-typeimpurities. When the active layer AL is formed of the oxidesemiconductor, a separate protecting layer may be disposed to protectthe oxide semiconductor from external environment such as exposure to ahigh temperature, or the like.

The gate electrode GE is disposed on the active layer AL with aninsulating layer interposed therebetween. The source electrode SE andthe drain electrode DE are disposed on other insulating layers coveringthe gate electrode GE, and are connected to the source region and thedrain region of the active layer AL through contact holes, respectively.The drain electrode DE is connected to a first electrode E1 of theorganic light emitting diode OLED through a contact hole.

The organic light emitting diode OLED includes the first electrode E1connected to the drain electrode DE of the thin film transistor TFT, anorganic emission layer EL disposed on the first electrode E1, and asecond electrode E2 disposed on the organic emission layer EL.

The first electrode E1 may be an anode, which is a hole injectionelectrode, and may be one of a light reflective electrode, a lighttransflective electrode, and a light transmitting electrode.Alternatively, the first electrode E1 may be a cathode, which is anelectron injection electrode.

The organic emission layer EL is disposed on the first electrode E1. Theorganic emission layer EL may include a low molecular organic materialor a high molecular organic material such as poly3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT), or the like. The organic emissionlayer EL may include a red organic emission layer emitting red light, agreen organic emission layer emitting green light, and a blue organicemission layer emitting blue light, whereby the red organic emissionlayer, the green organic emission layer, and the blue organic emissionlayer are formed in a red pixel, a green pixel, and a blue pixel,respectively, to implement a color image. The red organic emissionlayer, the green organic emission layer, and the blue organic emissionlayer are stacked together as the organic emission layer EL in all ofthe red pixel, the green pixel, and the blue pixel, and a red colorfilter, a green color filter, and a blue color filter are formed in eachpixel, thereby implementing the color image. According to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, a white organic emission layeremitting white light is formed as the organic emission layer EL in allof the red pixel, the green pixel, and the blue pixel, and a red colorfilter, a green color filter, and a blue color filter are formed in eachpixel, thereby implementing the color image. When the white organicemission layer is used as the organic emission layer EL to implement thecolor image and the color filter, deposition masks for depositing thered organic emission layer, the green organic emission layer, and theblue organic emission layer on the respective pixels, that is, the redpixel, the green pixel, and the blue pixel may not be used. The whiteorganic emission layer may include one organic emission layer or organicemission layers are stacked to emit white light. For example, theorganic emission layer EL may include at least one yellow organicemission layer and at least one blue organic emission layer combinedwith each other to emit white light, at least one cyan organic emissionlayer and at least one red organic emission layer combined with eachother to emit white light, at least one magenta organic emission layerand at least one green organic emission layer combined with each otherto emit white light to be emitted, and the like.

The second electrode E2 may be disposed on the organic emission layer ELand may be a cathode, which is an electron injection electrode. Thesecond electrode E2 may be one of a light reflective electrode, a lighttransflective electrode, and a light transmitting electrode. The secondelectrode E2 is disposed positioned over the entire display area DA ofthe substrate SUB so as to cover the organic emission layer EL.Alternatively, the second electrode E2 may be an anode, which is a holeinjection electrode.

The encapsulation EN is disposed above the substrate SUB, having thedisplay unit DM interposed therebetween. The encapsulation EN isdisposed above the substrate SUB over the entire display area DA and thenon-display area NDA of the substrate SUB and encapsulates the displayunit DM together with the substrate SUB. The encapsulation EN may beformed as a thin film encapsulation. The encapsulation EN includes anorganic layer OL disposed over the display unit DM and an inorganiclayer IL disposed on the organic layer OL. According to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, the encapsulation EN may include atleast one organic layer and at least one inorganic layer that arealternately stacked. More particularly, multiple inorganic layers ororganic layers may be formed, and the inorganic layers and the organiclayers may be alternately stacked. For example, the encapsulation EN mayinclude at least one sandwich structure in which at least one organiclayer is inserted between at least two inorganic layers.

The organic layer OL may be formed of polymer, and be a single film or astacked film formed of one of polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide,polycarbonate, epoxy, polyethylene, and polyacrylate. For example, theorganic layer may be formed of polyacrylate. In detail, the organiclayer may include a polymerized monomer composition including adiacrylate based monomer and a triacrylate based monomer. Here, themonomer composition may further include a monoacrylate based monomer,and may further include a known photo initiator such as2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl-diphenyl-phosphineoxide (TPO).

The inorganic layer IL may be a single film or a stacked film includinga metal oxide or a metal nitride. In detail, the inorganic layer mayinclude any one or more of silicon nitride (SiNx), aluminum oxide(Al₂O₃), silicon dioxide (SiO₂), and titanium dioxide (TiO₂).

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, aflexible display panel FD may include display devices, such as liquidcrystal displays (LCDs), plasma displays (PDs), field emission displays(FEDs), electrophoretic displays, (EPDs), electrowetting displays,(EWDs), and the like, as long as display panels are flexible.

The touch sensor unit TS is formed on the encapsulation EN of theflexible display panel FD. The touch sensor unit TS includes the firstsensing electrode TP1, the connection part CP, the second sensingelectrode, and the bridge BR as described in exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention.

The first sensing electrode TP1, the connection part CP, and the secondsensing electrode are each formed on the encapsulation EN.

The bridge BR extends in a first direction, which intersects a directionin which the flexible display panel is bent, to connect adjacent secondsensing electrodes. The bridge BR extends in the second directionvertical to the first direction or alternatively, in any direction, ifintersecting the direction in which the flexible display panel FD isbent.

The window WI is disposed on the touch sensor unit TS. The window WI maybe attached to the touch sensor unit TS by an adhesive layer VLincluding a viscoelastic material and is disposed on the touch sensorunit TS to protect the touch sensor unit TS and the flexible displaypanel FD from outside interference. The window WI may have an arealarger than that of the flexible display panel FD. The window WI isdisposed on the touch sensor unit TS and is bent in the same directionas the direction in which the flexible display panel FD is bent. Thewindow WI may keep a bent state in the first direction which is the samedirection as a direction in which the flexible display panel FD is bent,such that the flexible display panel FD may also keep a bent state inthe first direction. The window WI may include a transparent materialsuch as polymer, glass, quartz, and sapphire, and the like.

In the flexible display device 1000 according to the present exemplaryembodiment, the bridge BR extends in the second direction intersectingthe first direction in which the flexible display panel FD is bent, andthus the flexible display panel FD is bent in the first direction. As aresult, even though stress is applied to the bridge BR in the firstdirection, the stress is applied to a lateral direction of the bridge BRhaving a large aspect ratio in the first, and therefore damage to thebridge BR due to the stress applied in the first direction may besuppressed. More particularly, the flexible display panel FD maysuppress damage from stress to the bridge BR of the touch sensor unitTS.

Although certain exemplary embodiments and implementations have beendescribed herein, other embodiments and modifications will be apparentfrom this description. Accordingly, the inventive concept is not limitedto such exemplary embodiments, but rather to the broader scope of thepresented claims and various obvious modifications and equivalentarrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flexible touch panel, comprising: a flexiblesubstrate bent in a first direction; and a touch sensor unit disposed onthe flexible substrate, the touch sensor unit comprising a bridgeextending in a second direction intersecting the first direction,wherein: the touch sensor unit further comprises: first sensingelectrodes disposed on the flexible substrate, each of the first sensingelectrodes separated from each other along the first direction; aconnection part connecting the first sensing electrodes; second sensingelectrodes disposed on the flexible substrate, each of the secondsensing electrodes separated from each other along the second direction;and an insulating pattern disposed between the connection part and thebridge, the insulating pattern covering the connection part; the bridgeis disposed on the connection part and connects the second sensingelectrodes; the first sensing electrodes and the connection part areintegrally formed; the second sensing electrodes comprise the samematerial as the first sensing electrodes and are formed on the samelayer as the first sensing electrodes; and the bridge comprises amaterial different from the second sensing electrodes and is formed on adifferent layer from the second sensing electrodes.
 2. The flexibletouch panel of claim 1, wherein the second direction is perpendicular tothe first direction.
 3. The flexible touch panel of claim 1, wherein thebridge comprises a metal.
 4. The flexible touch panel of claim 3,wherein the second sensing electrodes comprise a transparent conductivematerial.
 5. The flexible touch panel of claim 1, wherein: theinsulating pattern comprises a bent surface; and the bridge is bentalong the bent surface.
 6. The flexible touch panel of claim 1, furthercomprising at least two bridges connecting adjacent second sensingelectrodes.
 7. The flexible touch panel of claim 1, wherein the seconddirection and the first direction intersect each other at an angle inthe range of 5° to 80°.
 8. The flexible touch panel of claim 1, furthercomprising a window disposed on the touch sensor unit, the window beingbent in the first direction.
 9. A flexible display device, comprising: aflexible display panel bent in a first direction and configured todisplay an image; and a touch sensor unit disposed on the flexibledisplay panel, the touch sensor unit comprising a bridge extending in asecond direction intersecting the first direction, wherein: the touchsensor unit further comprises: first sensing electrodes disposed on theflexible display panel, each of the first sensing electrodes separatedfrom each other along the first direction; a connection part connectingthe first sensing electrodes; second sensing electrodes disposed on theflexible display panel, each of the second sensing electrodes separatedfrom each other along the second direction; and an insulating patterndisposed between the connection part and the bridge, the insulatingpattern covering the connection part; the bridge is disposed on theconnection part and connects the second sensing electrodes; the firstsensing electrodes and the connection part are integrally formed; thesecond sensing electrodes comprise the same material as the firstsensing electrodes and are formed on the same layer as the first sensingelectrodes; and the bridge comprises a material different from thesecond sensing electrodes and is formed on a different layer from thesecond sensing electrodes.
 10. The flexible display device of claim 9,further comprising a window disposed on the touch sensor unit, thewindow being bent in the first direction.